Vacuum tank



wf w. MULR VACUUM TANK Aug 3 .1926.

Aug. 3 1926.

` W. W- MUIR 1,594,466

VACUUM TANK Filed sept. s. 19'2'1 3 sheets-Sheet 2 aulne-vu fof?,

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 w. w. MLJIR VACUUM TANK Filed sept. e,

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iwf/f I Patented Aue'. 3,

UNITED STATES 1,594,466 ATENT OFFICE.

WELLINGTON W'. MUTE, OF LOCKPORT, NEW YORK, ASSTGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

VACUUM TANK.

Application led September This invention relates to vacuunfi` tanks which are adaptedto utilize .engine suction for lifting a liquid from a lower to a'higher level.

One of the several objects of my invention is the provision of improved means for operating the suction controlling mechanism. wit-hout the use of springs or spring operated links and levers.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved means for giving a quick and positive action to the. operating valves.

lVith these and other objects in view which will appear as the description pror ceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter' described, particularly pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of portions of an engine showing the invention applied;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the vacuum tank;

Fig. 3 shows a modified form of tank and outlet or dump valve, parts in section and parts broken away;

Fig. l is a vertical section of a modified form of the device;

Fig. 5 is a vert-ical section of a modified form of the device, parts broken away;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of another modified form of the device;

Fig. 7 shows a modified form of the outlet or` dumpl valve arrangement shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 shows a modified form of the device, parts in section, parts broken away;

Fig. 9 shows another modified form of the device, parts in section and parts broken away; and

Fig. 10 shows a modified form of the device shown in Fig. 9, parts in section and parte broken away.

to any particular use, but for the purpose of description and illustration it is shown as being employed in connection with a fuel feeding system for hydrocarbon motors.

On the drawing, the reference numeral 10 My device is not limited in its applicationy designates a carburetor, 11 'a mixing charn-v 6, 1921. Serial No. 498,848..

straps 15 and 16, in an elevated position relative to the carbureter 10. It is preferably located beneath the hood in the usual planner. Thisv tank may be made in any A partition 19 has its outer edge extending between the cupi flanges. The partition and flanges are bolted together by bolts 2O as clearly shown. in Fig. 2. By this arrangement a tank having an upper pumping or vacuum cham-ber 21 and a lower or receiving chamber 22 is provided. rThe lower or receiving chamber 22 is provided with an aperture in its bottom wall in which is engaged a perforated pipe attaching nipple 23 having its outer end screw-threaded. A passage 24k having the turn-cock 25 therein has one end attached to the nipple 23 andfits other end. to the carbureter 10 for delivering fuel from the receiving chamber to the carbureter, as required.

rThe pressure in the receiving chamber is maintained at v.that of the atmosphere by means of a passage connecting it with the eX- ternal air. This passage may be of any suitable form as the tube 26 which has one end secured in the top wall of the cup 17 and its other end in the partition 19.

A. float chamber having bottom and side walls but no top -wall is secured within the vacuum chamber 21 in any suitable manner. The following arrangement for securing the float chamber in position constitutes a convenient manner for assembling the parts. Both the partition and the bottom wall of the float chamber are provided with aligned openings 23. An internally threaded valve guide or housing member 29 is adapted to be secured about the openings 28 by means of the nut 30. The flange 31 of the nut 30 engages beneath the partition and is adapted to draw the bottom of the float chamber into firm engagement with the. partition.

The nut is provided with an air vent or aperture 32 the upper end of which is formed into a valve seat. The apertured nut 30 constitutes an al1` inlet passage. A valve 33 carried by the hollow operating rod or guiding tube 34: is adapted to engage the valve seat in the nut 30.- The operating rod 34 is adaptedto slidably engage in an aperture 35 in the guide or housing member 29 'the :terrassement hasta whichbfits closely about said rod. The float 36 is secured to the intermediate portion of the operating rod 34.

A suitable guide is provided for the up per end of the operating rod As shown, a valve guide or housing member 37, similar to the guide member 29, is provided. rlhis guide member 37 may .also be internally threaded. A iiangedl screw-threaded pipe nipple member 38 having an aperture i0 therethrough is adapted to engage the guide member 37 Vto clamp the top wall of the Vacuum chamber between the guide 37 and the flange 39 on the member 38 to thereby make an air-tight connection. The aperturedmember 3S constitutes an air outlet or suction passage. he lower end of the aperture il() constitutes a valve seat which is adapted to beengaged by the valve ei-i rigidly secured to the upper end of the hollow operatingrod 34.` lllhile the valves 33 and il are shown as being attached to the same operating rod and arranged' in alinement, it is understood that any suitable arrangement-may be had so longas they are both positively operated byy the float 3G. A pipe 4i. adapted to be attached to the nipple member 38 and the intarre manifold 13 affords a communicating passage from the intake manifold through the passage 4l() and aperture l2 to thevacuum chamber 2l.

il pipe or passage i3 (see Fig'. l) is adapted to have one end 'connected' to a reservoin not show-n, and its other end is connected to the vacuum chamber by any suitable means, as by the,perforatednipple all. Attached to the inwardly extending` ende ofthe nipple le is a tube llo, the lower end of which extends ybeneath the upper edge of the float chamber in order to prevent the fuel from the main reservoir flowing directly into the float chamber. rlhe lower end of the tube 'fl-6 may lie-'provided' with a strainer 47, of any suitable -term. A@ liquid outlet passage 48 is provi'dedin the partition 19. for permitting the liquid in the vacuumchamber to pass int-o the lower chamber 22 when the air is permitted to enter the Vacuum chamber. lt will be noted that the lower edge ofthe passage 4 3 terminates in an annular comparatively sharp edge 48 which is adapted to constitute al valve seat for a- Valve i9 which may be in the` form of a sphere of metal, or other suitable material pivotally mounted' in the outer end of the lever 50`to freely rotate about the pivot 49'; There .is such a comparatively small surface engaged by the valve seat that the likelihood of any. foreignsubstance, ydeposit or the like)A adhering tothe valve and t to unseat thesame is reduced toa' face; ofv

able feature of the valve is-also lconsidered an important feature of my 'invention'. The liquid in discharging will cause the valve to rotate more or less and thus continually presenting new' surfaces' to the valve seat will prevent an accumulation of deposit betv-:cen the valve and its seat. In ,other words. the valve. is a self-cleaning one. The 1ever 50 ispivoted'to' the support 5l. The ree end 52 of the lever is adapted to act as a'counterweight for the valve. n The' fio'at chamber 27 is provided adjacent its bottom portionin the side wallthereof with a small aperture 53 The operating rod may be in the formof a hollow' rod or tube and has small apertures 54tand '55 'ad jacent the uppei'i and lower ends respectively whereby air entering the inlet 32'may4 pass through the aperture 55' intoA the tube 34 and conducted alonglthe tube and passes out through the aperture tabove theliquid in the upper'chamber to equalize the pressure between the upper and lower cliamb rs of the'tanln Attention is directed to the fact, that the air for equalizingthe pressure between thetwo chambers' is drawn into the upper chamber from the lower one and is led'directly to the top of the fluid within the upper chamber. This arrangement permits the liquidi fuelto 'flow freely through the dump Valve when the same is'. open, because it will not be necessary for any air to enter through this valve to equalize the pressure between'- the: two chambers. lVe-re' the air that enters the passage 32-compelled-to bubble up through the liquid in the'upper chamber, the resistance would be such that more or less of the air would likely pass upward through the passage 4.8 and thereby prolong theA discharging' action besides unnecessarilif agitatinp; the liquidi.

.Attention is also directed to the fact that thefluid'- for equalizing the pressure between he ytwo chambers is supplied by the lower chamber. It wil-lfthus bev seen that as the lower chamber 'lills'up the air or=vapor in the upper portion of the lower'chamber will notbe dischargedintolthe air to belost, but will be drawn into the upperchamber to equalize the pressure and then be drawn into the engine by the'exhaustingr device. This is considered an important feature, because Athe `e'asolinevapor which forms in the lower tank as a resultlof heat dueto the proximity of the vacuumy tan-lr to' ltheenegine willv be drawn-to ai great extent' into thenpper chamber andffrom there into` the intake manifold-v insteadr of beine` lostv by` escaping into the an?. By this-arteneinentgthe.pas-

aperture 57 in the valve stem 34a.

will exhaust the air in the upper chamber and cause the liquid from the reservoir to` it very quickly, almost instantaneously, raises `the float 36. The float being connected to the operating rod 34 operates the valves 4l and 33 to close the suction inlet and to open` the air inlet 32. Air immediately enters from the lower chamber through the passage 32, small aperture 55, hollow operating rod 34, and out at 54 above thelevel of the liquid thus equalizing the pressure between the upper and lower chambers upon which the valve 49 will open and permit the liquid to flow into the lower chamber. The liquid in the lioat chamber will in the meantime be flowing out through the aperture 53 to lower the float 36` to open the suction passagel and close the air inlet, which completes the cycle of operation.

The modified 'forni of the device shown in Fig. 3 diers from the i'orm shown in Fig. 2 in that the lower receptacle 22 may be a receptacle of any size and be open or closed. The valve 33 has an extension 54 extending freely down through the inlet passage 32 and through the biturcated end of the lever 52. A contact member 54' is secured to 'the lower end of the extension 54 which is adapted to engage the. bifurcated end of the lever 52 when the valve 33 is raised by 'the float 36. The extension 54 moves freely through the lever 52 in the opposite direction. Then the float moves upwardly the contact member 54a engages the lever 52 and elevates it to unseat the valve 49, thus preventing the possibility of its sticking and preventing a discharge of the liquid into the lower tank.

In the modified 'form ci the device shown in Fig. 4 the valve guide or housing 29"u has a tubular extension 55a which is adapted to extend to a point adjacent the top of the valve chamber. This extension is larger than the valve stem and is adapted to permit the air to pass upwardly between its inner wall and the valve stem. The float 36 is connected to the valve stem 34a by means of a bail 56 which engages an elongated This elongated opening permits lost motion connection between the float and the stem. The operation is similar to the form shown in Fig. 2. l

In the modification shown in Fig. 5 the oat chamber is secured to a support 58 carried by the partition 19. The support 58 is provided with opposed apertures 59 and 60 adjacent its lower end. A screw threaded plug 6l yengaging in the lower end of the support 58 secures thesame to the partition 19. The plug 6l is provided with two spaced apertures 61 and 61a. The valve stem 34h is arranged similar toA the corresponding valve stem 34 in the form shown in Fig. 2 except that its lower end is provided with a piston'that is adapted to slide up and downfwithin the support 58. `When the piston is in its lowered position .it seals the apertures 59 and 60. An aperture 62 through the piston is in communication with the hollow operating rod 341.

and 61a in the clamp 61 and consequently when the piston is atits lowermost position in contact with the plug 6l the apertures 62 and those in the plug 61 will likewise be sealed.

lV hen the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 5air from the lower chamber is free to pass through the aperture in the plug 6l, the aperture 62, through the passage in yThe aperture 62 is between the apertures 61 V the stem 34h, and out through the aperture 54b above the level of the liquid, thus permitting the liquid to liow through the apertures 59, 60, l61 and 6la into the lower chamber.

The modification sho-wn in Fig. 6 differs from the form shown in Fig. 2 in that the valve 49l is in the form of a disc instead ot' being spherical in form.

The comparatively sharp edge 48 of' the passage 48 is adapted to seat on the flat disk 49d which is carried by the lever 50d. l desired, the valve may be mounted on a stem 60d rotatably mounted in the lever 50d whereby the valve is rotated more or less during the discharge of the liquid :from the upper chamber and kept clean thereby.

The modified form shown in Fig. 7 diilers from that shown in Fig. 3 in that the valve 49C is shown as being a flat valve instead of a spherical one. This valve diers from the form shown in Fig. 6 in that the valve stem 60 of the kvalve 49'ispivotallymounted in the lever 50c as shown at 59. This piv otal movement about a horizontal pivot insures a perfect seating of the valve on the valve seat 48 of the passager48.

n the :form shown ink Fig. 8 the valve for the suction passage is dispensed with. The lioat chamber 27C is made integralwith the portion 19C.` The arrangement of the float portion of the valve stemv and valve support is substantially the same as that shown in F ig. 4. The upper end of the valve stem 134C'is; pivotally connected at its upper end to a lever 63. The 4leve-r 63 is pivoted to a support 64 carried by the top of' the chamber. The free end ot this lever has pivoted thereto a valve 65 which is adapted@ desean air passage" 6c :when the float is lowered :butivhen' the float is elevated the' lever is adapted to`unse'at tlievalve 65 and permit the entrance oit air through the passage 661 Whichin' 'turn will permit the liquid in the vacuum chamber to flow past thcvalve 49. It Willibe noted that inthi's form the suc-tion is continu'ous` through the restricted passage 40C.

In the modified orm of the device shown in Fig. 9 the arrangement of the air inlet valve is such that the valve 6T is placed on the outside of the tank. This valve has' a stem 68 extending down through the pas'- sage' 69 and is' adaptedto be pivoted to a lever 70y fulcrumed at 7l; The free" end of the lever is connectedto 'a rod to which the float 73 is attached. An attaching member .'llhaving an aperture .75"therethrough is vadapted to torni a guide for the lo-Wer end ot' the-rod 72: A. plug vis adapted to pass through the partition 19e and engage the support 7e and holds the parts in assembled relation.

It Will `be noted that in this form of device there is no' provision made for permitting-the air vfrom' thek lower chamber to get into the upper chamber. The lotverchamber is kept' at atmospheric pressure bv the lair flowing-through the passage 26e. `When the float 73 is elevated by the incomingliquid th'evalve 67 is -unseated `thusequalizing the pressure between the vacuum chamber 21 and the atmosphere which will permit the liquid in the chamber Z1 to iioW through the' passage 48@ into the lower chamber 18.

The modified form shoivn in Fig. l0 difters romthat in Fig. 9 `in that the equalizing tube-26I is arrangedexternally of 'the upper chamber.i This tube lmav extend to anyV desired height. It may extend high enough to constitute an overflow pipe rWhere necessary` or desirable.

lIt Willbe notedthat in all the forms shown the air inlet for restoringv atmospheric pressure to the upper kor vacuum Chamber is so arranged that the air is conducted to a point above the liquid contained therein. This construction prevents unnecessarily agitating the liquid which would otherwise occur were the inlet air compelled to pass upward through the liquid in restoring the upper chamber tof atmospheric pressure; It will alsobej noted that the aperture 58 in all the forms shoivn is'unobstructed by any valve or closure and that it constitutesthe sole outlet for the liquid inthe i'oatv tank. By making the'out- `let valvel'ess; there are novalves or closures to sticltland 'cansetrouble'.`- g This aperture beingrv open' at all-tnnesl-nsures certaintyin thief-lowering actioiifr oit. the oat and conlf meurek and positive-move entof `hi valine 'orvalfeg. g t'ill liflldstodftlai vii nia r'be resorted to inthe form,'constru tion', composition and arrangementofthe severall partsL Without departing from" the spirit' and scope of my inventionghence- I donot Wish to limit, mlyself strictly to the structure herein set forth, butlVhat` I claim is:

1. In a device ot' the classdescribed, a vacuum chamber', an exhaust pa'ssage'connected thereto, aliquid inlet, a liquid outlet, a valve for said outlet, an air rinlet and meansy for. controlling the flow otair through said inlet7 said meansincludingal float chamber having a single constantly open liquid outlet inthe Walls thereoi1 functio-ningindependently of said float.

2.' In a vacuum tank havingan. air inlet and ava-ive therefor, the combination ot'a fifoat and mechanism associated therewith ior". operating saidvalve, said mechanis-Inl including a ioat chamber fory containing said float, 'and having-a single liquid outlet inthe Walls thereof, said voutlet beingI always uncovered, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a device of the class described, a \v"acuu1i1y chamber having an exhaust passage connectedl thereto, a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, a valve for said liquid outlet, an air inlet, a valve therefor, a float ,for oper` ating said -air inlet valve, a float chamber tor` lcontaining said float, said lioat chamberbeingprovided with a single valveless liquid outlet, substantially as shown and described.

4t. In a device of the class described, a vacuum chamber, a section passage connectedto said chamber, a valve for said passage, affloat chamber, there being a restricted passage connecting said chambers, a float in said iioat. chamber for operating said valve,v `a receiving chamber, means for discharging liquid from said vacuum chamber-to said receiving chamber, and means tor conducting air from the receiving lchamber to the upper portion ot the vacuum chamber when said `suction passage is closed.

5. In a device of the'class described,'ia vacuum chamber having an air inlet, a valve torsaid inlet,- a float chamber, anda {loatin 'said chamber forv operating said valve, a single,constantly open passage being" provided between said chambers throughwhich liquid i mayl flow to and` from said' float chamber.

6; In:` a deviceof the class described," a vacuumv chamber. havingan air inlet land* outlet,` and a liquid inlet' and outlet, a

di'i'mp-"valv'e for said" liquid: outlet, ja 'hollow ce@ having, apertures adjacent :its upper and lower ends, "va1ves'- -.for said" air inlet and outlet;` operated by said rod, andlineans ating said rod substantially' as cribedk f vacuum chamber having an air, inlet and outlet, and a liquid inlet and outlet, a valve for said liquid outlet, aligned valves for said air inlet and outlet, an apertured housing for said air inlet valve, a hollow guiding rod for said air inlet and outlet valves engaging said housing and having a laterally extending aperture adjacent each end thereof, one of said apertures being within said housing, a oat chamber about said housing having an aperture in one wall thereof and a float within said float chamber for operating said rod, substantially as shown and described.

8. In a liquid pumping system, a lower chamber, an upper chamber, a float chamber within said upper chamber, an air pas# sage leading from said lo-wer chamber through said ioat chamber to the upper part of said upper chamber, a float within said float chamber, and a valve for said air passage arranged to be actuated by said float.

9. In a liquid pumping system, a `lower chamber, an upper chamber, a. partition be tween said chambers, a third chamber above said partition, an air passage from said lower chamber through said partition and into said third chamber, said passage opening above the level of liquid in said third chamber, and means responsive to level of liquid in said third chamber for controllingl flow of air from said lower chamber through said passage.

l0. In a liquid supply system, a pumping chamber, a receiving` chamber, a receptacle having communication with said pumping chamber adapted to permit overflow into said receptacle when the liquid in the said chamber reaches its highest leve-l, a passage admitting air to the upper part of said receptacle and pumping chamber, a iioat in said receptacle controlling flow of' air through said passage, and constantly open liquid conducting means between the lower portion of said receptacle and said pumping chamber, said means Vproviding the sole means for iiow of liquid into said receptacle during the illing of said pumping chamber until said overflow begins.

l1.` In a liquid supply system, a pumping chamber, a receiving chamber, a partition between said chambers, a float receptacle seated upon said partition, apertures through the partition and the bottom of the receptacle, and means associated With said apertures for securing together the receptacle and partition.

l2. In a liquid pumping system, a suction chamber, a receiving chamber, a iioat chamber in said suction chamber, a float in said last-named chamber, an air passage leading from said receiving chamber to said suction chamber above the level of liquid'therein,

vand a valve carried by said lloat and controlling passage of air through said inlet.

13. In a liquid pumping system, a suction chamber, a receiving chamber, a float chamber in said suction chamber, a float in said float chamber, an air inlet leading from said receiving chamber through said float chamber to the upper part of said suction chamber, an air outlet for said suction chamber, and valves carried by said float for controlling flow throughl said inlet and outlet.

lll. The combination ofl a fluid discharge passage, a valve seat at the discharge end of said passage, a spherical valvel adapted to engage said seat, a support upon which said valve is pivotally supported adapted to carry the same toward and from said seat and to permit free rotation about said pivot so as to bring dierent portions of said sphere into engagement with said seat, said parts arranged to hold said valve, when in the open position, in the path of fluid discharged through said passage to thereby clean the valve.

In testimony whereof I ailiX my signa ture.

' VELLINGTON W. MUIR.

oo A, 

